03/20/2026
Grief is not something we fix.
It’s something we witness.
When someone is grieving, the right words aren’t perfect ones — they’re honest, simple, and kind.
“I’m here.”
“I don’t have the right words, but I care about you.”
“Tell me about them.”
You don’t need to take their pain away.
You don’t need to make it better.
Your presence is the gift.
Your willingness to sit in the quiet, to listen, to remember — that is what matters most.
Sometimes love sounds like:
“I’ll sit with you in this.”
"No matter how familiar you are with grief, it’s still hard to know what to say when a death occurs. If you’ve ever found yourself relying on automatic responses, you’re not alone. Most of the time these sentiments come from good intentions and a desire to comfort. At Dougy Center, families share they sometimes brace themselves for the automatic, “I’m sorry for your loss,” or “I'm sorry.” Here's some ideas on what to say instead.
For more resources to help kids and teens who are grieving, go to www.dougy.org/resources.
